Liquid clarifying apparatus



Nav. 2, 1948. A. BuTcHER 2,452,991

LIQUID CLARIFYING APPARATUS meduune 19. 1945 l 5,.sheets shee1if ALFRED BUTGHER Nov. 2, 1948. A. Bu'rcHr-:R

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LIQUID'I CLRI'FYING APPARATUS l V Filed June 19 1945 s sheets-snaai' 1s y ALFRED BUTG'ER Patented Nov. 2,1948 Y LIQUID cLAmFYING APPARATUS Alfred'utcher, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Gulf Oil Corporation, lPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 19, 1945, Serial No. 600,225

This invention relates to liquid fying turbd water using a coagulant with subsequent settling.

An object oi `the invention is to accelerate floc` formation by causing a current of the water being treated to produce a rolling action, whereby the mutual adsorption of the sludge particles is promoted prior to delivery to a settling chamber. Another object is toaccelcrate floc formation by the controlled addition to a receiving chamber for the water' to be treated of previously settled sludge from a settling tank, this preferably with a subsequent' rolling action for the promotion of contact. Another object, related to the last, is to provide means whereby more or less settledout water, derived from sludge withdrawn from a settling tank, can bez/returned to the tank. A iurther object is to provide improved means for withdrawing sludge from a settling tank using av pump carriage traversable over the tank.

These and other objects are attainable in the use of the apparatus shown by way of example lnl the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the carriage appearing in`elevation,

Figure 2 is an enlarged section substantially on i an installation in accordance with theinvention,

Figure 2 as seen from the right of the latter and extends inwardly to a vertical end wall por. tion I4a which is extended upwardly to provide a4 weir I6 having a horizontal top edge. The wall I5 is provided with a draw-01T sluice, here shown as an opening I 1, for clear water, the sluice emptying into a trough I8. The opening I1' is shown as controlled by a gate valve I9 which is used, in the case of a battery of units emptying into the same trough I8, to cut out a unit which is not in operation. 'I'he sluice I1 is adapted to maintain a normal 1evel,for example at L, of

water therein, this level, `while it may uctuate 7 Claims. (Cl. 21o-16) to some extent, being above and adjacent the top of weir I6. Adjacent wall I5 a number of transverse baliles 20 are provided on the bottom to prevent sludge from traveling to and up wall Il vto the eiluent opening. Reference numeral 2i designates valved drainage lines.

Wall i Ia is continued outwardly of wall I4 in a wall 22 which constitutes the bottom of a tank defined by wall I4, a vertical wall 23, and side walls as at'24. This tank is divided into compartments 25 and 26 by a weir 21 which, as here shown, is inclined upwardly toward wall |41.4 The latter has bottom perforations 28 connecting chamber 26 with the bottom of the chamber 28 dened by walls lla, I4 and I8.` Theweir 21 has bottom openings 30 adapted to connect chambers 25 and 26, the openings 3D being controllable by a gate valve 3i. In the lower part of chamber 25 a short baille 32 extends from side to side intermediate walls 23 and 21. `Reference numeral 33 designates a valved pipe whereby the water to be treated and an added coagulant are fedinto the receiving chamber 28.

A valved drain pipe 34 is connected into the4 bottom of chamber 29. A perforated pipe 35 is disposed in the bottom of chamber 25 between wall 21 and the baille 32 and isin connection with a drain pipe-36 which leads* through 'a control valve 31 and a. solenoid valve 38, which has fully opened and fully closed positions, `to disposal. Reference numeral 39 designates a drain pipe for the bottom' portion of chamber 25 between wall 23 and baille 32.

Rails 4i! and 4I extend along the horizontal tops of walls i2 and I3 and are engaged'by ilanged wheels on axles 42 and43, which throughsuitable bearings, support the frame 44 of pump car C. Mounted on the frame is an electric motorl 46. which through a, speed reducer 46, sprockets 41 and 48, and a chain 49, is adapted to drive the carriage in either direction. Also mounted on the frame is a self-priming pump unit comprising an electric motor 50, a pump 5I anda tank 52, the pump intake being connected through a conduit 53 into the tank and being thereby in connection with an intake pipe 54 which leads from the tank and extends downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom wall II substantially midway between walls I2v and I3. pipe 64 being rigidly supported by frame 44. The lower end of pipe B4 is in connection with a horizontal collecting pipe Il which rextends substantially from side wall to side wall with its lower portion close to the tank 55 bottom, the collector pipe being rigidly positioned by means of angular-ly disposed tension rods which n ingl chamber.

3 extend between the collector pipe and frame M and are provided with turn-buckles.y The collector pipe is provided with a multiplicity of bottom openings 56 and with a multiplicity o f open ings 51 which are somewhat above the bottom of the pipe and on the side thereof which is toward the end wall I5. The output of the pump unit goes to the tankthrough a pipe 5I, and thence to a conduit 58 which extends over and into a trough 59 formed at the top inside of wall I3, the trough extending substantially from lthe first bame 26 to the end wall Il and being inclined toward the latter with its lower end in connection with a discharge pipe 60 which leads Assuming that the apparatus is to be placed' in operation, valve I9 is open, valve 3I isclosed, and turbid water with coagulant is fed into compartment 26 and thence through openings 28, chamber 29 and over the weir I6 into the settling compartment between the weir and wall I5, the sludge precipitating to form a bed whose top may reach the contour shown by the line 462, the level L eventually being reached with the clear water passing out at I1; The velocity of the water as it iiows into the chamber 28 is sufiiciently high so that it will be. given a turning or rolling movement on itself due to the juxtaposition of the weir I6 to the openings 28, the nature of the movement being indicated by the curved arrow. This rolling action promotes the contact. of the particles and, hence, the agglomeration thereof so that fioc formation is greatly promoted at this point without the use of any mechanical means.

As a result of this accelerated agglomeratlon, precipitation'is rapid after the oc passes over the weir I6. In the settling chamber the water is substantially quiescent, moving toward the overflow sluice at a rate of, say, approximately two feet per minute.

When it is desired t6 remove the sludge bed from the settling tank, the carriage, which is adjacent the wall I6, is startedand moves toward wall I 5 at a rate of, say, substantially two feet per minute, the solenoid valve 38 being simultaneously opened. As the carriage travels, the sludge is transferred to the trough 59 and thence through pipe 60 and distributor pipe 6I to the chamber 25. The discharged sludge is fairly active in movement but this `movement is reduced as the top of baille 32 is reached and the sludge e drops over the baille to be withdrawn through the Acollector pipe 35 and line 36 as controlled by valve 31. Eventually, the water in chamber 25 flows over the sluice or overflow existing at the top of weir 21 and drops into chamber 26 which has the lower level L. If valve 31 is completely closed, all of the sludge reaching chamber is passed to chamber 26, the old sludge thus entering the receiving chamber serving to accelerate floc formationin the latter. If valve 31 is suitablyopened, settled sludge is withdrawn from chamber v,25 and the overow from the latter may be more or less fully settled-out water. The system thus permits water loss to be kept low. If heavier sludge is desired in the receiving chamber, valve 3| may be opened to permit sludge movement throughopenings 36 into the receiving ,Y 4 a then returned to its starting position at the left, travel in both directions being desirably controlled by limit switches. Desirably, when the carriage reaches its righthand limit of travel it operates al switch whereby `solenoid valve 33 is caused toY c ose.

In normal operation, the valves of drainage lines 2I, 34 and 36 are closed. f

In the foregoing description I have given several of the preferred embodiments of my -invention but it is to be understood that these are set forth by way of illustration tation thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Liquid clarifying apparatus comprising an elongated tank having side and end walls and a stantial distance above said bottom wall and at one of said end walls, means adapted to control the rate of outflow of liquid from the tank and adapted to establish anormal liquid level in the tank, means outwardly ofthe other. end wall defining with the latter a receiving chamber for the liquid to be treated, said other end' wall being apertured at its bottom to provide an outlet from said chamber to said tank, said chamber being of sufllcient volume to permit f loc formation therein, means for introducing liquid to be treated into said receiving chamber, a Weir extending between the side rwalls adjacent said other end wall and terminating upwardly at a point which is below said level established by said means for controlling rate of outflow, said weir serving to deflect upwardly the outflow from said chamber whereby said outflow is substantially rolled on itself before passing beyond said weir, the portion of said tank between said one of said end walls and said Weir constituting a settling chamber, a sludge chamber outwardly of said receiving chamber having an overflow sluice to said receiving chamber above said level. means for delivering sludge from the settling chamber to the sludge chamber, and means for controllably withdrawing sludge from the bottom of said sludge chamber.

' 2. Liquid clarifying apparatus comprising an elongated tank having side and end walls and a bottom wall, an overow sluice positioned a substantial distance above said bottom wall and at one of said end walls, means adapted to control the rate of outflow of liquid from the tank and adapted. to establish a normal liquid level inthe tank, means outwardly of the other end wall dening with the latter a receiving chamber for the liquid to be treated, said other end wall being apertured at its bottom to provide anoutlet from said chamber tosaid tank, said chamber being of suilicient volume to permit lloc formation therein, means for introducing liquid to be treated' into said receiving chambena Weir extending between the side walls adjacent said other end wall chamber, this occurring by reason of the greater l head in the sludge chamber 25 than in the receivand terminating upwardly at a `point which is below said level established by said means for controlling rate of outow, said weir serving to de-- chamber to the sludge chamber at one side o! and not in limil ing sludge from the said sludge chamber at the` other side of said baille.

3. Liquid clarifying apparatus comprising an elongated tank having side and end walls and a bottom wall, an overilow sluice positioned a substantial distance above said bottom wall and at one of said end walls, means adapted to control the rate of outflow of liquid from the tank and adapted to establish a normal liquid level in the tank, means outwardly of the other end wall dening with the latter a receiving chamber for the liquid to be treated, said other end wall being Aapertured at its bottom to provide an outlet from said chamber to said tank, said chamber being of sufficient volume to permit floc formation therein, means `for introducing liquid to be treated into said receiving chamber, a Weir ex tending between the side walls adjacent said other end Vwall and terminating upwardly at a point which is below said level established by said means for controlling rate of utow, said weir serving to deflect upwardly the outflow from said chamber whereby said outflow is substantially rolled on itself before passing beyond said Weir, the portion of said tank between said one of said end walls and said Weir constituting a settling chamber, a sludge chamber outwardly of said receiving chamber having an overflow slulce to said receiving chamber above said level, a baille extending acrossl the bottom of said sludge chamber, means for delivering sludge from the settling chamber to the sludge chamber at one side of `said baille, and a valved ow connection leading from said sludge chamber at said other side of said-fbaille to said receiving chamber. a

4. Liquid clarifying apparatus comprising a settling tank having side and end walls and a bottom wall, an overow sluice positioned a substantial distance above said bottom wall and at one end of said tank, means adapted to control the rate of outflow of liquid lfrom the tank and adapted to establish a normal liquid level in saidV l tank, a second tank at the other end of the settling tank, a weir extending across the second tank and having an upper overflow edge terminating at a point which is above said level established by said means for controlling thev rate of overliow, said weir dividing said second 'tank into a receiving chamber for the liquid to be treated and a sludge chamber means for introducing liquid to be treated into said receiving chamber, a ow connection between the receiving chamber and the settling tank, means for delivering sludge from the settling tank to the sludge chamber, and

means for controllably the sludge chamber.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a valved flow connection from the lower part of the sludge chamber to the lower part of the receiving chamber.

. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein an upright baille is provided in the bottom of the sludge chamber, wherein the sludge is delivered to the sludge chamber at one side of said baille, and wherein the sludge is'withdrawn from the other side of said bafe.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein an upright baffle is provided in the bottom of the withdrawing sludge from sludge chamber, wherein the sludge is delivered l to the sludge chamber at one side of said baffle, `wherein the sludge is withdrawn from the'other side of said baille, and wherein a valved flow connection is provided to the lower part of the receiving chamber from the sludge chamber at said other side of said baiile.

. ALFRED BUTCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

AUNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,588 Vial June 9, 1903 1,892,648 Bousman Dec. 27, 1932 1,916,460 Bousman July 4, 1933 2,101,081 Lund r Dec. 7, 1937 2,110,721 Fischer Mar. 8, 1938 2,128,569 Velz Aug. 30, 1938 2,187,966 Rankin Nov. 22, 1938 2,204,703 Sanders v June 18, 1940A 2,242,652 Maxwell May 20, 1941 2,267,608 Hawleyv Dec. 23, 1941 2,317,847 Duden Apr. 27, 1943 2,320,512 Daily June 1, 1943 Certificate o! Correction Patent No. 2,452,991. November 2, 1948.

ALFRED BUTCHER It is hereby certiedthat errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 8, for "pipe 51 read pipe 51'; column 6, line 3, claim 4, after the word chamber insert a comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

